The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1887-08-18

- Ost p0ySuA0 ~ bAO Wy Iuo COuAty
treasurer, and they shall have the same
printed in at least one newspaper in their
county, etc.
Yet, in the face of these express
provisions Of the law, the people of
the county to-day are completely in
the dark in regard to their financial
condition.
BY Sec. So of the same chapter we
see further that
The books, accounts and vouohes Of the
county treasurer, and oil money, warrants
or orders remaining in the treasury, shall
at all times be subject to tho inspection
and examination Of the board Of county
commissioners, AMI At H REGULAR MEET
N q OF H BOARD IN JANUARY n JULY
OF EACH YEAR, and at each other times al
| they may direct, he shall settle with them
his accounts as treasurer, and for that pur-
pose, shall exhibit TO them oil his books,
accounts and moneys snd all vouchers re.
lating to tho same, to be audited and allow
cd, which vouchers shall DO retained by
Thorn for evidence Of his settlement, and II
found correct, the accounts shall DO certi-
fed; II not he shall be liable on his bond.
Nearly eight months haue elapsed and
no accounts have get been made, as re-
qu;red By lou, for which the people
must hold the commissioners respon
sible.
How long! o, how long! will
the commissioners continue to abuse
the patience Of the peoplel $500
The second act Of omission of which
the people may justly complain is the
failure to take advantage Of the law
authorizing counties to fund out
standing Indebtedness. This subject
has been so well discussed, both in
the press and at public meetings a.
to need no further discussion here
now, and we herein seek to show to
the people the negligence of the COM
missioners in not providing for them
this measure of relief. The law has
been in effect since March 9TH, last,
and though no official knowledge Of
it may have been had until the LIST Of
July, there is no excuse for any furth'
er delay on the paat of the1 board in
making provision for funding that
part Of the Indebtedness which &C.
crued prior to the 29th of July, 1885.
According to a statement prepared
by the county clerk at that time for
the use of the Judge of the District
Court, the outstanding Indebtedness
was 81, 145.1 II.
Why not get rid Of that, Messrs.
Commissioners? Let the dead past
bury its dead-and let the living,
struggling present transfer this un'
welcome carcass for a future genera.
ton to give it more decent interment.
and q monument.
The third act Of omission to which
we call especial attention is enc which
has more culpability in it than any
other, because it involves the unlaw'
full appropriation of the peoples
money for a purpose not originally
contemplated, and which should have
been returned to the fund where il
belonged. The diversion of the peo'
Piles money is a criminal act, fol
which the proper punishment shoulc
be meted out.
We refer to the fund that had beer
created as alleged for a sinking fund
there being no occasion for such
fund, the first duty upon the discovery
Of its uselessness for the purpose fol
which it was created, was Il
refund it. By Chapter IA
of the laws Of 1887, relating to unex
pended balances of any special funt
where the purpose for which it wa
created has been fully %subserved, an.
there remains no further use for sucl
balance, it is made lawful for tn
county commissioners to transfer suc]
balance to any other fund Of tn
county or sub divisions to euhih sac
balance belonged. In the case befor
us, the fund out of which such specis
or. sinking fund was create
was the general fund.-. and to
should have been transferred. Tn
. omission or failure to do this is tn
one we characterize as culpable, CT
pecially when it is considered that tn
object for which it was expended wa
; one not within the sphere Of duty g
} the commissioners, for no where ca
authority be found for the purchas
of a building for county purpose
where such expenditure lis create
in amount than can be provided fo
by the annual tax" without the sub
mission of such a question 10 a vote {
the people. See sections 80 and Al
chapter 21, political code.
The purchase of a so-called build
ing for county purposes and the pay
ment therefor out Of a fund unlawful
created and which should have bee
returned to its proper fund, under n
peculiar circumstances which surro,.
the purchase Of the alleged county coaH
house, at the old town of Bottineal
constitutes a serious case, demanding
rigid investigation, and this is the great
estsin of omission for which we arraig
the present board Of county commil
sioners.
There are other sins, as for exam
pie the omission to provide suitabl
accommodation for the public official
and adequate protection against lot
by fire or otherwise Of the records {
the several officers as contemplated
subdivision s, section %, and section
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